Kangaroo Paw Bush Fury

Kangaroo Paw 'Bush Fury' (Anigozanthos 'Bush Fury') is the one to plant when you want burnt orange and red flowers held above the foliage for months at a time. The clump sits at about 1.2m tall and 80cm wide in flower, on strong upright stems that do not flop. Honeyeaters find it within days of the first flowers opening.

Why you'll love it

• Flower colour that carries. Burnt orange through to red on tall stems, the sort of colour that reads from the other end of a garden.
• Birds arrive quickly. The flowers hold nectar at a height honeyeaters like, so a small mass planting becomes a regular feeding stop.
• Low water once established. Drought tolerant, heat tolerant and salt tolerant, which suits a hot western bed or a coastal front garden.
• Fast to fill a space. A fast growing native that reaches flowering size in its first full season rather than its third.
• Safe around pets. Not toxic to cats or dogs.

Where it works best

Mass planting. Plant 60cm apart. At that spacing the clumps knit into a continuous band of foliage while each one still gets the airflow it needs at the crown.

Borders and edging. Run it along a path or the front of a native bed, where the flower stems rise clear of lower planting.

Pots and coastal gardens. A 400mm pot with a gritty mix suits a single clump on a balcony, and salt tolerance keeps it looking well in a seaside front garden.

Growing Kangaroo Paw 'Bush Fury' in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, all day, is not negotiable. It performs in warm temperate, subtropical, Mediterranean and arid gardens. It takes light frost only, so cold inland districts and hard frosting southern gardens need it in a pot that can be moved under cover.

Soil. Sharp drainage matters more than fertility. Sandy or gravelly ground is ideal, and on clay it belongs on a raised mound. Keep mulch thin and clear of the crown, because a wet crown is the usual cause of death.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first summer, then only in long dry spells. A low phosphorus native fertiliser in early spring is enough for the year.

Pruning. Cut spent flower stems and tired old leaves right back to ground level after each flush. This looks brutal and it is exactly right: fresh fans push up within weeks and it triggers the next round of flowering.

What to expect when it arrives

It is sold as tube stock, in 140mm packs of ten and in 200mm packs of six. Tubes are young single fans and the value choice for a large bed, though they need a season before they flower well. The 140mm and 200mm plants are the pick for a border you want looking finished this year.

Plants travel packed upright, and some leaf tip browning after transit is normal rather than a fault. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read the kangaroo paw care guide for the full drainage and cutting back routine.
• Browse the wider Australian native range.
• See other bird attracting plants to plant alongside it.
• Compare options for mass planting.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it?

Sixty centimetres apart for mass planting. Any tighter and the clumps trap humidity between them, which is what brings on ink spot on the older leaves.

Why did mine stop flowering?

Almost always because the old stems and foliage were left on. Cut the whole clump back to ground level after flowering finishes and it will rebuild and flower again.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes. Use a 400mm pot with a free draining native or cactus mix, put it in full sun, and let the surface dry between waterings.

Will it survive frost?

It takes light frost only. In a garden that frosts hard through winter, grow it in a pot and shift it to a sheltered spot under eaves for the coldest months.